Introducing: The Municipal Leadership Development Circle (MLDC) - Save 50% During Launch Phase
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Welcome to this week’s edition of “The Leader’s Lens!” This week at HaltingWinter Municipal Solutions, we explored Peter Drucker’s timeless wisdom from “The Effective Executive” through the unique lens of municipal leadership. If you enjoyed Monday’s public content, consider joining the Municipal Leadership Development Circle (MLDC) to access the complete five-part series, including four additional deep-dive articles and the full podcast exploration. MLDC members receive weekly insights from influential leadership books all year long, translated specifically for municipal context. [Learn More Here]
Hello, Impactful City Leaders!
Welcome to this week’s edition of “The Leader’s Lens!” This week at HaltingWinter Municipal Solutions, we explored the transformative power of emotional intelligence in municipal leadership through Daniel Goleman’s groundbreaking book. The insights couldn’t be more timely as city leaders navigate increasingly complex stakeholder dynamics and organizational challenges.
Hello, Impactful City Leaders!
I hope you enjoyed rest and rejuvenation over the past week with Christmas and New Year’s. There’s nothing better than the sight of smiles and sounds of laughter from my children – the best rejuvenation elixir and motivator as we launch into the new year. While I’ve been preparing for the exciting launch of the Municipal Leadership Development Circle (MLDC), this week’s newsletter highlights some of our best content from 2024 that you might have missed.
Hello, Impactful City Leaders!
Welcome to this week’s edition of “The Leader’s Lens!” As we gather during this special week between Christmas and New Year’s, we’re exploring Stephen Covey’s timeless wisdom through a municipal lens, discovering how his principles can transform both our leadership impact and personal effectiveness in 2025.
Hello, Impactful City Leaders!
The holiday lights are twinkling across our cities, and municipal teams everywhere are wrapping up their final projects of 2024. As I reflect on the conversations I’ve had with city leaders this week, one theme keeps emerging: the desire to truly rest and rejuvenate during the upcoming holiday break, not just “survive” it.
My deepest hope for each of you is that these next couple of weeks bring not just rest, but moments of pure joy surrounded by family and friends. You spend all year caring for and serving your communities – I hope you’ll now allow others to serve and care for you.
Hello, Impactful City Leaders!
This week, I’ve smiled broader than the Cheshire cat while seeing so many posts from city managers and administrators sharing their community’s holiday celebrations. From Christmas tree lightings to community parades, these events showcase more than just seasonal spirit – they demonstrate the unique magic that happens when municipal leaders and their teams pour their talents into creating memorable moments for their communities. The joy on employees’ faces as they serve their neighbors reminds us why we chose public service in the first place.
Hello, Impactful City Leaders!
Welcome to this week’s edition of “The Leader’s Lens!” In our journey to build stronger cities through stronger leaders, we’ve been challenging a pervasive myth in municipal leadership: that self-sacrifice equals dedication. Through Emily and Amelia Nagoski’s helpful book “Burnout,” we’ve discovered how sustainable leadership practices actually lead to better service for our communities.
Hello, Impactful City Leaders!
Welcome to this week’s edition of “The Leader’s Lens!” Drawing from Roger Connors and Tom Smith’s groundbreaking work “Change the Culture, Change the Game,” we’ve explored how beliefs shape actions and drive results in municipal organizations. This week’s insights reveal why most cultural transformations fail – and more importantly, how to ensure yours succeeds.
Finding time for leadership development is challenging enough. Creating an actual game plan that drives real growth? That can feel impossible.
That’s why as a Black Friday special (only available Nov 29-Dec 1), I’m offering:
Stop piecing together your development plan alone. Let’s create a structured path to make 2025 your breakthrough year.
Use Coupon Code “BlackFriday” at checkout: SAVE NOW!
To learn more about the Municipal Leadership Development Circle (MLDC), go here.
In local government, recognition often comes in the form of complaints rather than praise. The water system works perfectly for years – silence. One day of issues – instant feedback. Yet the dedication of municipal employees continues, ensuring our communities thrive through their often unseen efforts.
This Thanksgiving season, I challenge you to be intentional about expressing gratitude. Take time to specifically thank your team members for their contributions. Whether it’s the water treatment operator ensuring safe drinking water, the maintenance crew keeping our streets clean, or the permit specialist helping businesses grow – every role matters.
Remember: gratitude isn’t just about feeling thankful – it’s about expressing it. Your words of appreciation might be the encouragement that helps someone persevere through their next challenge.
Episode 120: Breaking Free from “We’ve Always Done It This Way”
Discover why changing your culture might be the most important thing you do this year. We explore:
Episode 121: From Banking to Breakthrough Leadership with Brooks Williams
Meet the City Manager who transformed “the town where everyone hates each other” into a high-performing organization. Hear about:
The last part of the podcast features a few snippets from Brooks’ new book, “Rising to Serve: Reimagining Public Administration for a New Era” which you can purchase at this link.
Drawing insights from the book, “Change the Culture, Change the Game,” we’ve explored how to create lasting cultural transformation in municipal organizations:
Monday: Transforming Municipal Culture: Beyond the Status Quo
Success Understanding the key challenges facing cultural transformation
Tuesday: The Results Pyramid: Transforming Leadership from the Inside Out
How beliefs drive actions and create organizational results
Wednesday: Cultural Beliefs and Leadership
The critical role of leadership in shaping and sustaining cultural beliefs
Thursday: Sustainable Culture Transformation
Building changes that last through political transitions and budget cycles
Friday: From Insight to Impact
Practical steps for implementing cultural transformation
This week’s exploration of cultural transformation reminds me why I’m passionate about municipal leadership. Every city has the potential for excellence – it’s the beliefs we hold that often limit what’s possible. Brooks Williams’ story proves that even the most challenging cultures can be transformed through authentic leadership and consistent action.
Next week, we’re diving into “Burnout” by Emily and Amelia Nagoski as we take the month of December to focus on the B of my ABCs of Impactful Leadership framework: Personal Well-Being. In the week ahead we’ll explore:
P.S. Connect with me on LinkedIn to receive this content and engage in the comments!
Seth Winterhalter is President of HaltingWinter Municipal Solutions and creator of the ABCs of Impactful Leadership framework. Through executive coaching, results-based consulting, and the Municipal Leadership Development Circle (MLDC), he helps city managers transform their organizational cultures to create lasting, meaningful impact in their communities.
Hello, Impactful City Leaders!
Welcome to this week’s edition of “The Leader’s Lens!” The most innovative cities aren’t just hiring smart people – they’re mastering how different minds work together. This week, we’ve explored how understanding and leveraging collaborative intelligence can transform your municipality’s effectiveness.
Impactful City Leaders,
Welcome to this week’s edition of “The Leader’s Lens!” What makes some city halls feel electric with possibility while others seem stuck in bureaucratic quicksand? This week, we’ve explored Daniel Coyle’s “The Culture Code,” discovering how invisible patterns shape organizational excellence – and what it means for municipal leadership.
